Why a SK PCAP Partnership

Photo by Tara Mulhern-Davidson.

Grasslands are one of the world's most threatened ecosystems, making them a conservation priority. In North America, tall-grass prairie has been reduced to 1%, and mixed-grass and short-grass prairie to 20-30% of their former range, together exceeding losses reported for any other major ecological community on the continent.1 In Saskatchewan, it is estimated that between 17% and 21% of the original native prairie remains intact.2 Despite increasing awareness of the value of healthy prairie ecosystems, loss of native prairie continues.3

Our remaining native prairie is a valuable resource that touches many lives and many interest groups. Some, such as ranchers, rely on the sustainable use of prairie for their very livelihood. For others, native prairie may be of cultural, spiritual or recreational importance. Many landowners, government and non-government agencies play a role in the stewardship and protection of native prairie as well, representing many interests. Integrating these efforts and defining common outcomes among the players is fundamental to effective prairie conservation.